Jacob's sons returned from the field. When they heard what had happened, the men were shocked and they seethed with anger. [Shechem] had committed an outrage against Israel, sleeping with a daughter of Jacob! Such an act could not be tolerated!

'These men are friendly toward us,' they said. 'They live on the land and support themselves profitably from it. The land has more than ample room for them. We will marry their daughters, and give them ours.

Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, 'You have gotten me in trouble, giving me a bad reputation among the Canaanites and Perizites who live in the land. I have only a small number of men. They can band together and attack me, and my family and I will be wiped out.'

killed every male Since the citizens did not penalize Shechem for his crime, they were considered accomplices (Maimonides, Yad, Melakhim 9:14). Furthermore, the people of Shechem were planning to attack Jacob and plunder him (Sefer HaYashar; see Genesis 34:23). Besides this, the city deserved divine punishment, since they were notorious for seducing and raping the daughters of strangers (Tzava'ath Levi 6:8-11; cf. Ramban).

Notice: This computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.